Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlo R&amp;W’

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Phlox  plant having an ascending habit and low plant height. The  Phlox  plant has abundant branching, and great profusion of blooms, the whole plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flowers are single, the upper side color of the corolla is light purplish pink and yellowish white at the center with strong reddish purple eye. The under side color of the corolla is pale purplish pink and the outside of the corolla tube is pale purplish pink. The plant exhibits a high tolerance to heat and resistance to disease.

Botanical designation: Phlox drummondii.

Variety denomination: ‘Sunphlo R&W’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Phloxplant originated from the crossing of a Phlox variety called ‘9Ph-17’(♀) with a commercial cultivar ‘Palona Rose with eye’ (unpatented) (♂).

Phlox are mainly late spring or summer flowering annuals or perennial,grown for terminal panicles or for a profusion of brightly coloredflowers. However, there are only a few Phlox which can survive a hot andhumid summer and can bloom continuously until autumn. Accordingly, thisinvention was aimed at obtaining a new variety having vivid reddishpurple colored petals, together with good heat tolerance and longer aflowering period.

The female parent ‘9Ph-17’ (unpatented) is a variety having a vigorousgrowth habit, abundant branching and good heat tolerance.

The male parent ‘Palona Rose with eye’ (PVP No.8900050 in United States)is a commercial cultivar.

In May 1999, crossing of a breeding line called ‘9Ph-17’ as femaleparent with a cultivar ‘Palona Rose with eye’ as pollen parent wasconducted at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan. In January 2000, 50seedlings were obtained from the crossing. The seedlings were grown inpots and tested, and then a single seedling was selected in view of theflower color, the good heat tolerance and a longer flowering period. Theseedling was propagated by cutting and tested by flower potting andbedding from April 2001, at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan. Thebotanical characteristics of the plant were then examined using asimilar variety, ‘Dolly Rose’, for comparison. As a result, it wasconcluded that the Phlox plant is distinguishable from any other varietywhose existence is known to us and is uniform and stable in itscharacteristics. The new variety of Phlox plant was named ‘Sunphlo R&W’.

In the following description, the color information is in accordancewith The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

This new variety is unlike any Phlox commercially available, known tothe inventors, as evidenced by the following unique combinations ofcharacteristics.

-   -   1. Ascending habit with short stem.    -   2. Having abundant branching with many blooms.    -   3. The flowers are single. The petal color is purplish pink        (R.H.S.65B) and yellowish white (R.H.S.155B) at the center, with        strong reddish purple (R.H.S.72B) eye.    -   4. The plant has a good tolerance to rain and heat.

The new variety ‘Sunphlo R&W’ differs from the male parent variety‘Palona Rose with eye’ (unpatented) in the following points.

-   -   1. The stem color of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ is dark red (R.H.S.183A).        That of ‘Palona Rose with eye’ is light yellow green        (R.H.S.154D).    -   2. The number of primary branches of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ more than        that of ‘Palona Rose with eye’.    -   3. The base color of corolla of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ is light purplish        pink (R.H.S.65B). That of ‘Palona Rose with eye’ is vivid        purplish red (R.H.S.67B).    -   4. The heat tolerance of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ is strong. That of        ‘Palona Rose with eye’ is weak.

The new variety ‘Sunphlo R&W’ differs from the similar variety ‘DollyRose’ (unpatented) in the following points.

-   -   1. The stem color of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ is dark red (R.H.S.183A).        That of ‘Dolly Rose’ is light yellow green (R.H.S.154D).    -   2. The diameter of corolla of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ is larger than that        of ‘Dolly Rose’.    -   3. The petal of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ is broader than that of ‘Dolly        Rose’.    -   4. The color of corolla-upper side of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ is light        purplish pink (R.H.S.65B). That of ‘Dolly Rose’ is deep purplish        pink (R.H.S.66C).    -   5. The eye color of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ is strong reddish purple        (R.H.S.72B). That of ‘Dolly Rose’ is vivid red (R.H.S.57B).    -   6. The heat tolerance of ‘Sunphlo R&W’ is stronger than ‘Dolly        Rose’.

The new variety of Phlox plant ‘Sunphlo R&W’ was asexually reproduced bythe use of cuttings at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, and thehomogeneity and the stability thereof were confirmed.

The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproducestrue to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new cultivar. The depicted plants had beenreproduced by the use of cuttings and were photographed June 2002 whilegrowing outdoors in 20 cm pots at an age of approximately 3 months atYokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan.

FIG. 1 illustrates an entire plant of the new variety while growing in apot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close view of the foliage and blossoms of the newvariety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Phloxplant named ‘Sunphlo R&W’ are set forth hereafter. The plants wereobserved as grown in typical outdoor conditions during June 2002 atYokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, at an age of approximately 3 months. Theaverage day temperature is approximately 22° C. and the average nighttemperature is approximately 12° C.

-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Ascending.        -   Plant height.—Approximately 14 cm.        -   Spreading area of plant.—Approximately 32 cm.        -   Blooming period.—Early April to late October in the southern            Kanto area, Japan. A typical flower commonly lasts            approximately 5 days on the plant when experiencing a            temperature of approximately 20° C.-   Stem:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.7 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Present and typical of the species.        -   Primary branching.—Abundant.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 11.0 mm.        -   Color.—R.H.S. 183A (greyed-purple group).-   Leaf:    -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Alternate.        -   Whole shape.—Lanceolate. The apex shape is acute, and the            base shape is obtuse. The leaf margin shape is entire.        -   Length.—Approximately 4.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side color is R.H.S. 146A (yellow-green group).            Under side color is R.H.S. 146A (yellow-green group).        -   Thickness.—Approximately 0.3 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Present at upper side and under side.-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Cyme.        -   Inflorescence length.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—Approximately 7.0 cm.        -   Flower shape.—Salverform.        -   Corolla shape.—Orbicular.        -   Flower diameter.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Petal width.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Petal length from throat.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded cuspidate.        -   Number of petal.—5.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Corolla tube diameter.—Approximately 1.5 mm.        -   Length of corolla tube.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Upper petal surface color.—Near R.H.S. 65B.        -   Lower petal surface color.—Near R.H.S. 62D.        -   Upper petal surface color (near the throat).—Near R.H.S.            155B.        -   Petal eye color (central upper surface).—Near R.H.S. 72B.        -   Outside color of corolla tube.—R.H.S. 62D (red-purple            group).        -   Reproductive organs.—1 normal pistil and 5 normal stamens.            Color of pistil is R.H.S. 155B (white group). Color of            stamen is R.H.S. 6B (yellow group).        -   Pedicel.—Approximately 1.0 mm in diameter and Approximately            0.6 cm in length. Color of pedicel is near R.H.S. 146A.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate, 5 sepals fused at the base. Sepal length            is approximately 5.5 mm, width is approximately 1.0 mm.            Sepal shape is lanceolate. Sepal margins are entire. Upper            and lower sepal surface color is near R.H.S. 146A.

The plant grows well at temperatures up to 30° C.

Seed production has not been observed.

The lower and upper temperatures for the plant survival have not beenevaluated. Disease resistance to pathogens common to Phlox has not beenobserved.

This new variety of Phlox plant is most suitable for flower bedding andpotting. It is unnecessary to pinch of old blossoms to enhance theformation of new blossoms.

1. A new and distinct variety of Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlo R&W’,substantially as herein illustrated and described.